Another vote for Sonor. Though I wish they'd made the new lugs look more like the original teardrops.

I've changed my mind. I'm going to say a Steve Maxwell Nesting Kit.

Anchor Drums are very nice looking and the Y/T sound clips are good. Or my friends @ Outlaw Drums in Georgia. Guaranteed U.S.A wood in those...

All mentioned above are great "modern"drums....

My preferences (just for dream about) :

Ludwig Legacy in Antique WMP finish,

Craviotto any kind,

Sonor as well,

New Gretsch in "some kind of coffee" sunburst finish (I guess it was Expresso or something like that !!! Laughing HCool1) ........I saw at S. Maxwell's catalog....a truly beauty,

C&C -never heard or played, but they looks very high stándar...

Well, and on and on..Excited

Wow, not a single mention yet for DW?

Why the hate?:confused:

Hands down, DW Collectors. In fact, I already own them. The quality is 2nd to none, they tune up easy, sound and look amazing! DW is more wrapped up in drum history than most companies are imo. Color, wraps and finishes available are almost endless.

My kit is a jazz set-up 12T, 14FT w/legs, 20 BD. When I saw the Twisted Rainbow finish, I fell in love!

[IMG]https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10410141_900028990016153_8932383495173280147_n.jpg?oh=7730f5c3cf50d8ef915bb6b9db0698fc&oe=55F255A4[/IMG]

Fred Gretsch still owns the Leedy name. Gretsch has made one (maybe a few) complete Leedy sets for Tre Cool of Green Day. I'd have them make a set for me that can be configured in a few ways by ordering the sizes listed below. I would like the drums to be built as close to the specs of the SlingerLeedy drums of the mid 1960's. I would definitely choose a 60's wrap. If I had to decide on the wrap today, I'd be torn between Red Glass Glitter, WMP, or BDP as long as the pearl was the large pattern that was used for Slingerland and Leedy back then. Here are the sizes I'd want:

14x20 bass drum with wood hoops, T-handles--not key rods, and matching wrap inlays

Stick Saver hoops for all toms and the snare drum

Internal tone controls for both heads in all drums (bass drum, too)

8x12 mounted tom

9x13 mounted tom

14x14 floor tom

16x16 floor tom

5x14 wood shell Shelly Manne snare drum

All lugs would be Leedy Deco style.

Tom hardware would be Slingerland Set-O-Matic receiver in the middle of the bass drum with a single tom arm and a double tom holder for the flexibilty to use either one up or two up with one down or two down and either lefty or righty depending on how I wanted it to be at any time...remember that there is no up or down for the mounted toms except for the badges. I prefer to use the same heads for both sides of toms, anyway. I also want a matching canister throne made to my specificatins for height and diameter.

A very beautiful kit Schmeg!

I am a DW owner as well. I opted for the Performance Series because I gig all of my drums, and would not be able to emotionally handle the first ding or scratch in a $5000+ shell kit.

Nice choice Jack! I have never owned one, but have played a few Ayotte backline kits and really enjoyed them. Here I am playing one in the middle of La Grande Place in Brussels a few years ago.

DW, Cherry or Maple mahogany drums. Absolutely off the chain.

Gretsch USA Custom in second place. Maybe the new 3ply shell. Absolute beauty personified in sound and looks to me.

3rd place would be a toss up between Ludwig and Sonor.

No one's calling a MIJ name yet.

I owned an Ayotte Custom for ten years. I should have kept it. I sold it because it looked like it was going to become a boat anchor. Then they came back.